Most healthcare providers don't know how to shape their practice's online reputation, despite the fact that over 75 percent consider it extremely or very important, according to a 2018 PatientPop survey.
PatientPop surveyed 200 medical and dental professionals responsible for managing a practice's online reputation. Respondents came from a broad range of practice types, sizes, geographies and job titles.
Here are seven findings from the survey.
1. About 63 percent of respondents said a patient has posted a negative review about their practice.
2. Nearly 88 percent reported feeling at least somewhat concerned about receiving negative reviews. Approximately 30 percent would feel 'extremely concerned' about a negative review.
3. Only 18.4 percent of respondents have developed a strategy for following up with patients who provide a negative review.
4. One in four providers don't respond to negative feedback at all.
5. About 32 percent of practices don't have a follow-up process but would like to implement one.
6. Nearly 50 percent of practices in highly competitive markets don't see as many new patients as they'd like, and 27 percent have lost patients to other practices.
7. Almost one-third of practices are devoting more resources toward online reputation to achieve greater online visibility in the market.